Introduced a while ago, Tamiya's website has more photos and information on their 100th kit in the MM series, the Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn in 48th scale. We look at the real thing, features of the kit & the colour choices in the box in our preview...
Preview: Tamiya's German heavy anti-tank self-propelled artillery "Nashorn" in 1/48 Scale
German heavy anti-tank self-propelled artillery Nashorn
From Tamiya
1/48 Scale
Item No: 32600
An overall length of 176 mm.
Two marking choices are included
Metal weights are included
Scheduled to be shipped in November 2021
RRP: 2,420 yen
For the 100th kit in the 1/48th MM series, Tamiya is turning to an old favourite and making the Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn in 48th scale. We have some information on the colour schemes & features of the kit, but first, the Nashorn in history.
The Subject: The Sd.Kfz. 164 Nashorn
Nashorn (German "Rhinoceros"), initially known as Hornisse (German "Hornet"), was a German tank destroyer of World War II. It was developed as an interim solution in 1942 by equipping a light turretless chassis with the Pak 43 heavy anti-tank gun. Though only lightly armoured and displaying a high profile, it could frontally penetrate any Allied tank at long range, and its relatively low cost and superior mobility to heavier vehicles ensured it remained in production until the war's end.
Total production of the Nashorn amounted to some 494 vehicles, most of which were built in 1943. In January 1944 Hitler favoured the production of a newer tank destroyer, the Jagdpanzer IV, which had a much lower silhouette, thicker frontal armour (60 mm frontal plate), and an effective though less powerful 7.5 cm gun. Though still primarily an ambush weapon, this vehicle was better built for armoured engagements. Production of the Nashorn did continue into 1945, though at a slow pace.
Although the Nashorn/ Hornisse was fairly popular with its crews and the infantry and tanks that they supported - the top of the hull was open to the elements - and in Russia, the extremes of continental heat and worse - the cold, made this vehicle better than lugging a gun around the battle, but not quite as comfortable as riding around in a sealed up vehicle.
A German illustration that explains why the Hornisse SPG was created.
The Hornisse/Nashorn made its debut during the Battle of Kursk, where they performed well. The ability to engage the enemy at long distances negated the disadvantages of light armour and a high profile and revealed the weapon was suited to the open, flat landscape of much of Russia.
- This newly tooled kit is in 1/48 scale, with injection moulded & Photo-etched parts included.
- Overall length 176 mm, with an overall width of 62 mm.
- Not only the powerful style with a long barrel 8.8 cm gun on the open-top body, but also the precise details of the gun mount and the inside of the battle room are realistically reproduced.
- A reduced number of parts for easier assembly is exemplified by the tracks which come pre-assembled/ joined in the flat sections. The slack at the top can also be expressed naturally as they are made in single links. The kit also comes with a metal weight that creates a feeling of weight.
A powerful figure such as the 8.8 cm gun boasting tremendous power and a large battle room is modelled in the optimum size for the collection.
A full-body figure of the tank's commander is dressed in winter clothes and is posed monitoring the horizon with binoculars.
The gun mount and the main gun loading part have a lot of complicated structures. The barrel can move up, down, left and right.
All the equipment on the upper part of the car body such as gun travel lock, jack, and towing wire are made into separate parts.
The suspension base wheel & alignment is integrated with the side of the hull for ease of assembly.
Two types of markings are included in the box.
The kit is due for release in November.
You can see more about this and Tamiya's other kits on their website...